Conflicts of Interest at Metro Pulse?
Did Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam’s Senior Director for Policy Development, Bill Lyons, author the pro-eminent domain editorial for Knoxville’s alternative weekly The Metro Pulse?
The Metro Pulse has published a highly emotional condemnation against State Representative Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville), State Rep. Frank Nicely (R-Strawberry Plains), and others for their stand against eminent domain.
In the March 9, 2006 edition of the Metro Pulse, the editorial specifically blasts Campfield for trying to pass a 120-day moratorium on land grabs.
The Metro Pulse accuses Campfield of “scare tactics” and “demagoguery.”
The local alternative weekly whose liberalism seems limited to sexual experimentation, has this to say about Campfield and eminent domain:
“But when an eager, unknowledgeable newcomer to the political scene can be led astray by a few fear-mongers, including the veteran lawmaker, Frank Nicely, R-Strawberry Plains, and a couple of paranoid owners of blighted property, a fiasco is in the making.” (page 7)
The Metro Pulse accuses Campfield of crying “wolf” and calls others concerned with eminent domain “HIS LITTLE NEST OF ALLIES.”
And before saying that Campfield needs to be retired, the MetroPulse lays out their love of land grabs with this little nugget:
“There will be occasions, as there have been in the past, here and elsewhere, where the clarity of public purpose demonstrates that eminent domain should be exercised. That could become clear for reasons of ECONOMIC NECESSITY, public safety, national security, JOB PROMOTION, OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER SOUND PURPOSES, INCLUDING RIDDING OF THE COMMUNITY OF BLIGHTED PROPERTY.”
(Capitalization emphasis added by me. I added the caps to underscore what these “editors” are saying here. Based on the statements, you could just about take anyone’s property for any reason.)
COULD IT BE THAT THE METRO PULSE HAS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST?
It sure looks like it. Checking City of Knoxville Senior Director of Policy Development Bill Lyons website (www.williamlyons.com) you will discover that he married Gay Henry. Gay is listed on page 7 under Metro Pulse editorial staff as “critics-at-large.”
So….it looks like the City of Knoxville has a direct line to the editorial pages of the Metro Pulse. Will the Metro Pulse step forward and answer if Bill Lyons wrote the pro-eminent domain editorial for the March 9th edition? Or did Gay Lyons (the wife of City of Knoxville’s Bill Lyons) write, influence, or submit any opinions regarding eminent domain for the March 9th edtion?
These are valid questions. Stay tuned…
14 Comments so far
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What makes you think he wrote it? Because his wife writes a food column every other week.
That’s ridiculous. Why don’t you just take on the substance of the issue rather than play-acting like somebody did something wrong? Very dramatic.
SC
By S Carpenter on 03.18.06 11:42 pm
Substance of the issue? There are 59 bills in the State legislature dealing with eminent domain, but it seems the Metro Pulse is on an island when they so emotionally write that it’s NOT an issue.
The level of intensity, the choice of words like “nest of allies”, indicates it’s more than an issue for whoever wrote the editorial. To me, and any other observer, it indicates it’s something personal.
Disclosure is important. Disclosing ties to the City of Knoxville is important.
And I will be disclosing more, even though you think it is “ridiculous.”
By Terry on 03.19.06 6:42 am
This proves two things:
1.) The City of Knoxville doesn’t give a flying flip about personal and real property rights
2.) Stacey Campfield needs to run and be elected to higher office.
By David Oatney on 03.19.06 8:38 am
Disclosing more? I’m all in favor.
The question I asked was, why you thought it was written by a City official. You made the claim, I’m simply asking why you think so.
Please disclose you answer to that question.
Regards,
SC
By S Carpenter on 03.19.06 8:50 am
SC–I didn’t make a ” claim”, I asked a question. Did you see the question mark? There was a question mark in the title as well as the introductory sentence.
The Metro Pulse should answer who wrote the editorial. Given Bill Lyons record of emotional hyper-response to the eminent domain issue as well as his connections with the Metro Pulse, it is not outside the realm of possibility that he wrote it.
The Metro Pulse has conflicts…and I’ll reveal more in due time. Failure to disclose interests is not only dishonest, but it injures credibility.
If the editors won’t disclose them, I will.
By Terry on 03.19.06 9:32 am
As of today there are no longer 59 bills for eminent domain reform.
There is only one. The anti-farm bill from Joe Fowlkes.
By Property Rights on 03.20.06 10:13 am
Did you see Rep. Campfield attribute his E.D. efforts to Knoxville’s very own lobbyist, Fred (Tony) Thompson? He did when he was on WBIR this weekend. The I think he called him a Knox County lobbyist –he’s the cities.
What more did Campfield look to accomplish with a bill he new wouldn’t even make it to the floor, much less past the Gov’s desk?
He is playing the issue –and the people he represents.
In fact, I can’t think of a single piece of legislation the fellow wrote and passed.
Ms. Frank –instead of looking to root out the evil doin liberals, take a look at the rancor in our own party. It sickens me.
By C Wright on 03.20.06 12:04 pm
I did not mean to suggest Eminent Domain is not a critical issue. My point was that Joe Fowlkes killed the 120-day moratorium against Kelo type Eminent Domain and also killed 58 other Eminent Domain bills.
Eminent Domain reform is one of the most crucial issues at this time in Tennessee. Rep. Campfield has been a leader in Eminent Domain reform. We need more leaders.
How is what Fowlkes did any different that what you have suggested about the Metro Pulse? Everyone knows who benefits from cheap land grabs.
By Property Rights on 03.20.06 1:00 pm
C Wright- I think you are mistaken in this case.
Rep. Stacey Campfield was working on the eminent domain issue last year (2005). If I’m not mistaken, Rep. Frank Nicely worked on that legislation as well. They put bills in place long before the Kelo decision ever came down from the Supreme Court. That would make it long before eminent domain became a “hot button” issue. The timing would indicate sincerity and foresight, unless Campfield and Nicely had an inside track at the Supreme Court.
Rep. Campfield noted on his blog as well as in a newspaper column for the Knoxville News Sentinel, that the Tenn. Municipal League was opposed to the bill last year.
When the winds of public opinion changed, so did the TML. And so did a host of legislators.
I only saw part of Campfield and his opponent’s interview on WBIR, so I’m not sure what part you are talking about re: Knoxville’s lobbyist. I do know that a lobbyist for Knoxville did appear in the legislature to oppose Campfield’s 120-day moratorium bill because they (Knoxville) were planning on using eminent domain within the next 120 days to seize property.
As far as I know, no mainstream media regarded it as newsworthy to report that a Knoxville lobbyist appeared to lobby against the bill.
I will check into it though.
I respect your opinion, but I hope you aren’t offended if I disagree.
By Terry on 03.20.06 2:08 pm
Property Rights- Thanks for the comments.
I would appreciate any insight on Mr. Fowlkes and who’s pulling his strings. It seems a lot of the folks lukewarm or flat out opposed to upholding property rights are somehow on the “benefit” side.
By Terry on 03.20.06 2:12 pm
To learn more about Joe Fowlkes go here:
http://www.propertyrightsknox.blogspot.com/
and here:
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/campaigns/joe_fowlkes.asp?cycle=02
Fowlkes is a leader for the “benefit” side of Kelo eminent domain. The reason Fowlkes and Jimmy Naifeh want Rep. Campfield gone is the issue of eminent domain.
By Property Rights on 03.20.06 3:06 pm
Tony Thompson spoke against my bill in committee saying the city was against it and they had property in mind that would be effected if this bill passed. I asked what property and was not given a response.
By the Rep on 03.20.06 7:18 pm
[...] Recently I asked of Bill Lyons, Director of Policy Development for the Mayor Haslam and the City of Knoxville, or if his Metro Pulse staffer wife, Gay, had written, influenced, or contributed to an editorial hit-piece in the Metro Pulse which slammed legislators who are working to protect private property rights. [...]
By terryfrank.net » More on Metro Pulse on 03.23.06 3:57 pm
[...] In March, I asked questions about a Metro Pulse editorial hit piece on State Rep. Stacey Campfield as well as State Rep. Frank Nicely. The piece criticized the idea that eminent domain seizures was a problem or a reality. I asked in my posts if the Metro Pulse would come forward and answer who wrote the editorial. You can read my posts here and here. Bill Lyons with the City of Knoxville was one person that I suggested might possibly have a line of influence with the Metro Pulse since his wife is listed as staff for the Pulse. [...]
By terryfrank.net » For the record on 04.24.06 9:00 pm
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